3 Million People Diagnosed with Diabetes in UK

Diabetes now affects 4.7 percent of the U.K. population or about 3 million people, according to data available from a study conducted by Diabetes UK and Tesco.

The study shows that in the past one year alone, more than 130,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Also, nearly 850,000 people are expected to have diabetes that hasn't been diagnosed yet.

Type-2 diabetes accounts for nearly 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases. This type of diabetes has been linked to poor lifestyle, obesity, unhealthy diet and hereditary disorders. Making lifestyle changes can control type-2 diabetes and in some cases delay or even prevent it. Unlike diabetes type-1, insulin or oral medication is not required. However, in some cases, doctors prescribe certain medication to keep the sugar levels near normal.

In the U.S., the number of people being diagnosed with diabetes has tripled, from 5.6 million in 1980 to 26.9 million in 2010. According to CDC, by 2050, 1 in 3 U.S. adults will have diabetes. The condition is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and limb amputations not caused by an accident.

According to estimates by WHO, the number of people with diabetes is expected to increase from 170 million today to about 370 million in 2030, and that a large number of the cases will be reported in the developing countries.

"By identifying those at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, we can ensure they start getting support to make the kind of lifestyle changes that can help prevent it. And by making sure people who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are already getting the care and support they need, we can help them avoid the devastating complications diabetes can cause," Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes U.K., said in a news release.